Poster #102 - Testing a model of home visiting for mothers with opioid use disorders and their babies

• In Event: 2-002 - Special Poster Session 05 with Continental Breakfast Reception
  In Poster Session: PS 05 - Interdisciplinary Section

Integrative Statement

The use of opioids has been on the rise across most of the United States. This epidemic seems to be primarily affecting young adults who are in the prime age for child rearing (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). As a result, many babies are being born with neonatal abstinence syndrome and a greater number of children are entering the child welfare system (Choi % Ryan, 2017). The increase of young children placed in foster care since 2013 is largely being blamed on opioid use (Wiltz, 2016). When parents with opioid use disorders (OUDs)lose custody if their children the rates of reunification are very low (Grella, Needell, Shi, & Hser , 2009). While some mothers with OUDs are unlikely to be able to effectively parent their children, there are some women who could continue to provide safety and nurturance to their children with adequate support. Medication assisted therapy involving the use of opioid agonists/antagonists along with motivational interviewing has been found to be effective during pregnancy but data shows that mothers may be vulnerable to decreased medication adherence after the baby is born (Hall, Wilfong, Huebner, Posze , & Willauer, 2016). The current study aimed to provide in home support and medication management to new mothers. A social worker-pharmacist team visited 12 mother-baby dyads in their home for a 12-month period. All of the women enrolled in the study were prescribed opioid antagonists took their babies home within two weeks of delivery. At baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12-months, measures of attachment, maternal mental health, and family support were collected. Families were also asked about child welfare involvement. This sample was compared to a group of 14 mothers who refused the intervention but agreed to complete baseline, 6 month, and 12 month surveys. For all but three of the women this was their first baby. Both groups had a mean age of roughly 25 years old and all women were White. The majority of both groups were parenting alone or with minimal involvement from the child’s father. Results showed stronger maternal baby attachment and better mental health among the intervention women. The intervention group had no child welfare referrals while the control group had three. Women who received home visiting also reported higher levels of medication adherence than the control group mothers. Social support was rated the same across both groups. Findings support the idea that mothers with drug use problems may be able to adhere to treatment medication and maintain custody of their children if additional support is offered. In-home interventions can be especially effective for women who are struggling with addiction.

Author

• Rachel Fusco, University of Georgia School of Social Work
  Presenting Author